Form for tying neckties



1945- F. K. STEHLE 2,412,480

FORM 'FOR TYING .NECKTIES Filed June 27, 1944 INVENTOR. FRANK K STEHLE i m mo ATTOENE 7 Patented Dec. 10, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 6 Claims.

In tying neckties of the type known as four-inhand, difiicultyis experienced in making a well formed and neat appearing knot. Also, the knot, unless made very tight, tends to slip, especially'if the fabric of the tie is very smooth. In all events, the tie gets wrinkled in the area in which the knot is formed, such wrinkles showing below the knot and presenting an untidy appearance which necessitates frequent pressing of the tie. Furthermore, it is frequently necessary to loop the tie more than once in order to produce a knot having sufficient body, and to proportion the knot to the gap between the points of the collar.

It is, therefore, one object of the invention to produce an improved form for tying neckties.

A further object is to produce an improved form of the type set forth whereby a well-shaped knot may be easily and uniformly produced, whereby the knot is prevented from slipping and whereby wrinkling of the fabric is eliminated or greatly reduced.

A still further object is to produce a form of the type set forth which will be light and inexpensive to make.

These and other objects are eflected by the invention as will be apparent from the following description and claims taken in connection with the accompanying drawing forming a part of this application, in which:

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of the form embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a left-hand, end elevation of Fig.

Fig. 3 is a right-hand elevation of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a section on line 5-5 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a section on line fi6 of Fig, 1;

Figs. 7 and 8 are fragmentary front elevational views illustrating the steps followed in using the form shown in the preceding figures.

Referring to the drawing, the form embodying my invention is generally of the shape shown in Figs. 1-6 and is made of any suitable material, such as metal, plastic or other easily worked substance which when finished will be light, strong, smooth and generally attractive. The form includes a lower elongated front portion Ill having rearwardly extending flanges l2 which are at substantially a right angle to the portion H] and which preferably, but not necessarily, tape down to a point M. The form also includes an upper tubular portion l6 formed of a front wall l8, side walls 2! and 22, and a rear wall 24. The front wall 18 is provided with an elongated slot 2-3 which merges at its upper end with a slot or recess 28 formed in the upper edge of the back wall 24. The side wall 201s provided with an elongated opening 30, the upper end 32 of which is closed by a meeting of the adjacent portions of the front and rear walls l8 and 24, as best shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 4.

The adjacent portions of the front wall i8, side wall 22 and rear wall 24 are continued laterally to form a tubular extension 34 which projects at about 90 from thervertical median line of the form, as best shown in Figs. 1 and 4. The extension 34 is provided with an end and bottom opening 36, and is curved, as shown in Figs. 4 and 6, so as to conform to the curvature of the neck. It will be noted that the openings 39 and 36 communicate with each other, with the front slot 26 and with the interior of the upper tubular portion of the form.

Operation The end of the narrow portion 38 is first inserted through the front slot 26 and then out through the side opening 33. The narrow portion 38 is then pulled out through the opening 36, and the end of the portion 38 is now inserted through the side opening 36 and into and through the tubular portion 16. The parts now appear as shown in Fig. '7, in which the narrow portion forms a closed loop 42 which is big enough to slip over the head of the wearer. In this position of the parts, the broad portion 40 of the tie overlies the right-hand portion ofv the front wall it, as viewed in Fig. '7, and is in a position to form the exterior or final knot shown in Fig. 8. When the tie is to be worn, the loop 42 is slipped over the head and the narrow portion 38 is pulled down through the tubular portion It until the loop 42 snugly-hugs the collar band. The broad portion is then looped over the tubular portion and the knot is formed in the same manner in which it would have been formed had the form not been used and had the broad portion been merely looped and knotted over the narrow portion in the well-known manner. In order to retain the portion 38 of the tie in position and in order to keep it nicely spread, the points or prongs M are engaged with the corresponding body of this tie portion.

To take the tie off, the narrow portion 33 is disengaged from the prongs M and is pulled upwardly through the side opening until aloop 42 is again formed. The tie may now be slipped over the head and put away. It will be seen that the exterior or final knot formed by the broad portion of the tie is not disturbed so that, when it is again desired to use the tie, it is mere- 1y necessary to slip the loop 42 over the head and pull the narrow portion 38 down to bring the loop 42 into engagement with the neck band of the shirt. By this means, a perfect knot is had at all times, and the tie may be worn or removed almost instantly, as compared with conventional practice. Also, since the knot is not disturbed, all the wear and tear is sustained by the narrow portion 38, which is concealed from View by the overlying broad portion 49.

It will be noted that without the use of this form, a tie of this type is tied by first making a base knot to produce a body about which the knot proper is subsequently formed. By my invention, the upper tubular portion of the form provides the desired body or support about which the knot proper may be formed, thus eliminating the necessityof making a base or preliminary knot.

Without the use of this form, the base knot was relied on to adjust the loop 42 of the tie to the size of the neck or shirt collar, and to retain the tie in this adjusted position. This meant that the base knot had to be made very tight or firm with consequent wrinkling of the fabric.

Furthermore, if the fabric was smooth, it had a tendency to slip and loosen the knot. By the use of my improved form, the frictional engagement of the portions 38 and MI with the Walls of the openings 30 and 36 and with the interior of the form, and the engagement of the points 14- with the portion 38 of the tie, effectively prevent relative sliding of the tie. Likewise, when the final or knot proper is formed, it is necessary, without the use of the form, to make the final knot K relatively tight, especially with a smooth fabric. This produces wrinkles and often necessitates tightening the loop 42 to an extent which may be uncomfortable to the wearer. By the use of my novel form, the portion of the tie 40 forming the final knot is merely draped over the upper por-' tion of the form and tightened, with the fabric lying flat and unwrinkled about the form. Furthermore, tightening the final or knot proper will have no effect on the size and fit of the loop 42 encircling the neck band of the shirt.

It will thus be seen that by my novel form, provision is made for disposingthe portions 38 and 40 of the tie in proper relation for forming the knot, that the sub or base knot is eliminated, that the form provides a body over which the knot is formed without wrinkles and that all slipping or sliding of the tie is entirely eliminated. The exact size and shape of the form may be varied without departing from the scopeof the 5.:

invention, which resides primarily in the provision of a tubular portion through which the portion 38 is inserted and which constitutes a support for the knot, and the side opening 30 through which the other portion 43 of the tie projects to be looped over the form for producing the knot. By varying the size and shape of the parts just referred to, knots of diiferent sizes and shapes may be produced.

When the tie is to be cleaned or pressed, or, when the tie is to be replaced with a new or a different tie, the narrow portion of the tie is pulled out of the tubular portion 26 and out through tubular extension 3 The broad portion 40 is then pulled out through the slot 26 and the side opening 39.

By assembling the tie to the form as above explained, the form can be relatively small, and the side openings 30 and 36 and the front slot 26 can be made relatively small, so that the entire tubular portion is completely enveloped by the formation of the knot and the form is completely invisible.

While I have shown the form embodying my invention made of one piece, it will be understood that it is within the scope of my invention, if so desired, to split the form longitudinally through the front and rear wall or through the opposite side walls, the two pieces to be suitably hinged or otherwise secured together in a fashion which will permit the two pieces to be parted for insertion of the respective portions of the tie, instead of passing them through the side openings 38 and 38 or through the tubular portion in the manner above described. Since the manner in which the two parts of the mold may be hinged together can be accomplished in any number of ways by those skilled in the art, it is deemed umiecessary to illustrate this feature by drawing.

Having described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A form for tying the knot of a necktie, said form including side, front and rear walls defining a hollow body open at its top and bottom, a wall structure defining a guide opening near the top, and to one side of said body, and a wall structure defining an elongated, hollow guide member disposed at an angle to, and extending from the opposite side, of the top of said body, there being a slot in the upper portion of the front wall of said body communicating with said guide opening, said guide member, and the interior of said body.

2. The structure recited in claim 1 in which said front wall is provided with bottom prongs for engaging the necktie.

3. The structure recited in claim 1 in which said front wall extends downwardly beyond said rear and side walls to form a support for the portion of the necktie immediately below the knot thereof.

4. The structure recited in claim 1 in which said front and rear walls and said side walls converge towards the top of said body.

5. A form for tying the knot of a necktie, said form including side, front and rear walls defining a hollow body open at its bottom, a wall structure defining a guide opening near the top, and to one side, of said body, and a wall structure defining an elongated, hollow guide member disposed at an angle to, and extending from the opposite side of, the top of said body.

6. A form for tying the knot of a necktie, said form including side, front and rear walls defining a hollow body open at its bottom, a. wall structure defining a guide opening near the top, and to one side, of said body, and a wall structure defining an elongated, hollow guide member disposed at an angle to, and extending from, the opposite side of the top of said body, there being a slot in a wall of said body communicating with said guide opening, said guide member and the interior of said body.

FRANK K. STEHLE. 

